October Reading

After the heaviness of Lessons, I thought I'd read something light. This is a complex heist story, though also commenting on class and appearance as much as the fast paced storyline.

Spoilers ahead so do not read until you've read the book.

I adore this book. I read it first for the HSC. We as a class decided we hated Washington Square (too dull) and so as none of us would write about it for the exams, we spent double the time on Gatsby. I still get jealous of people reading it for the first time. I loved my feelings I had when I read it for the first time, the story unknown. I got so caught up in that era and landscape. I still 'see' it in places to this day. Visiting Fernhill makes me think of the parties on the sweeping lawns, the flickering light on the point at Currawong, while looking at the sparkling lights in the distance (of Palm Beach across the water) makes me think of West Egg and the green light. The images are so concrete in my head, it's like a place I remember.

The characters are broken people being selfish and awful. I think the openly flawed characters made them seem more interesting. And sadder, in the 'what was it all for?' kind of way.

I remember so clearly the shock of the car crash. I had to turn back the page and re read it because I thought I'd misread somehow. It was so unexpected (thought the tension had been building) and arresting. It was, by the way, the first automobile accident in literature, so imagine how much more shocking it must have been to readers at the time! 

We are warned over and over about these people, so many lines tell us what they are like. And yet when the end comes, we, like Nick, feel a little betrayed and disgusted in them all. And we do feel sorry for Gatsby even though he is far from a stand up guy himself. I think the book is so clever and so beautiful, while telling a very ugly tale of violence and the actions of awful people. There is a lot of violence in the book - the war, the mafia criminals, the domestic violence and yet it's dressed as this shiny and floaty elegance and joie de vivre. I think that's where the poetry lies. The whole book is just building tension for the big moment, and yet we are shocked nonetheless when it happens.

Fitzgerald had lots of different titles for the book - some of them terrible. The editor was the one who pushed for The Great Gatsby, and even wanted to change the title after it was published.

I can't tell you how many times I've read this now, but I never tire of it, and I never cease to notice some new detail I don't recall.

Look forward to hearing what the bookclub podders have to say. (And for those that love all things Gatsby, the Gatsby at the Green Light cabaret will be back this December - great fun!)

I really enjoyed this - it's only about 2 hours, borrowed from the library on Hoopla. If you've read A Moveable Feast, it's further background. There were so many great writers, poets and artists all kicking around Paris & France at that time. This is how the country influenced them, and they all learnt and got inspired from each other. It also showed a different side to Hemingway, as he really pushed other writers and helped them get published.

In an absolute score I got the Miles Franklin winner in the street library. I've just finished his earlier book which I loved (The Whitewash) so can't wait to start reading this (Just have to finish the Ryu Murakami I just started first)

Linking with #SundayPost #StackingtheShelves and #SundaySalon